Couple accused of molesting girl, 6, face Class A felonies in Tippecanoe County

Formal charges were filed Tuesday against a Lafayette couple who were arrested July 9 on accusations that they repeatedly molested a 6-year-old girl in their care over a two-and-half-year period.

Cory A. DesArmo, 28, is charged in Tippecanoe Circuit Court with six counts of child molesting as a Class A felony, based on allegations of penetration; two counts of child molesting as a Class C felony, based on allegations of fondling; and one count of conspiracy to commit child molesting, a Class A felony.

His live-in girlfriend, 30-year-old Elizabeth Carle, is charged with two counts of child molesting as a Class A felony, based on allegations of penetration; conspiracy to commit child molesting, a Class felony; and neglect of a dependent, a Class D felony.

The conspiracy count is based on allegations that Carle moved the girl from Arizona to live with DesArmo and accusations that, on one or more occasion, both adults were present when the charged sexual acts occurred at their Lafayette home.

Lt. Jason Huber, commander of the Tippecanoe County Sheriff's Office detectives division, said Tuesday that the 6-year-old now is in the care of relatives who live out of state.

According to police, the accused couple also had a younger child in the household, but information on the custody arrangements for that child was not available.